Student Doctors Profiled in New Series

A major TV documentary series will look at how a leading
School of Medicine is preparing a new generation of doctors for the
ever-growing demands of the NHS.

The series Doctoriaid Yfory (Tomorrow's Doctors) – is being
on the National Eisteddfod field in Abergavenny.

The documentary, to be broadcast on S4C from Tuesday 13
September, follows 15 medical students at the Cardiff University - School of
Medicine.

Ranging between 18 and 23 years old, these Welsh-speaking
students come from various backgrounds and areas of Wales, but they are all
united by a passion for medicine.

Green Bay’s cameras have been following the students for 12
months in hospitals and general practices all over Wales.

The seven-part series, filmed in partnership with Cardiff
University’s School of Medicine, has enjoyed unrivalled access to operating
theatres, surgeries, hospital wards and the multi million pound clinical
training facilities at the University Heath Campus.

The access was made possible by the NHS staff who supported
the series and most crucially are key in the teaching and development of the
students.as they grow into caring, committed and highly able doctors.

Green Bay’s Series Producer Llinos Griffin-Williams said:
"The series provides a unique behind-the-scenes portrayal of how a
pioneering School of Medicine helps shape these young, often raw, and certainly
inexperienced undergraduates into the doctors, surgeons and consultants of the
future.

"From the safety of the classroom, to the stark reality
of A&E, we look at the emotional, intellectual and physical challenges
facing these students, as they prepare for some of the country's most demanding
jobs.

“Challenging and at times incredibly moving the series looks
at the reality of preparing for a unique profession as an army of tutors,
doctors and nurses shape the next generation of physicians. This has been a
humbling and inspiring series to produce.

“Our journey takes us all over Wales and as far as New
Zealand and Tonga, but the personal, emotional journey will take us all on an
even longer journey."

This All-Wales breadth of clinical experience provided by
the School of Medicine means that the students become familiar with Welsh
healthcare provision and the needs of our communities. This is reflected in the
55% who have chosen to stay in Wales this year for their first Foundation post.

The students learn about medicine in all kinds of
communities in Wales; but the emphasis is always primarily on patient care.

Dr Awen Iorwerth, from Cardiff University’s School of
Medicine said: “The patient is central to the student's learning experience in
Cardiff, as they should be throughout a doctor's career. Our aim is to
transform young people who do well in exams into committed, empathic and happy
young doctors. Wales is a microcosm of many societies and is a wonderful
classroom to teach our students about all aspects of medicine and to give them
a taste of the various lifestyles a doctor can have.”

Cardiff University’s School of Medicine has broken new
ground in various aspects of medical trading, one being the use of a second
language as part of their courses. Working in collaboration with the Coleg
Cymraeg Cenedlaethol (Welsh National College), they are preparing students to
work through the medium of Welsh.

Llinos Griffin-Williams adds, "A number of the students
will choose to work in rural areas of Wales, returning to the communities where
they were brought up. The National Health Service in Wales has put great
emphasis on preparing doctors and nurses for work in areas where a significant
percentage of the population is Welsh speaking. The Cardiff University School
of Medicine has pioneered in collaboration with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol
in preparing medical students for a bilingual society."

More information about the series, along with student
profiles will follow nearer to transmission in September.